- New State Government initiative to support volunteers
- $7.6 million for Regional Emergency Service Volunteer Fuel Card Scheme
- Made possible by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program
Emergency services volunteers will be given help with fuel expenses under a $7.6 million State Government program to provide fuel cards to eligible volunteer groups.
The scheme will be available in regional and high-risk bushfire areas and will provide eligible volunteer emergency service groups with $2,000 per year over four years.
Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis said the Regional Emergency Service Volunteer Fuel Card Scheme was a way of acknowledging and thanking volunteers for their service to the community.
"Volunteers are crucial to the delivery of fire and emergency services to the Western Australian community, especially in regional areas," Mr Francis said.
"These volunteers willingly give their time to protect our communities and the fuel card is a small contribution to help with their transport costs."
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the scheme was made possible by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program.
"The Regional Emergency Service Volunteer Fuel Card Scheme is designed to minimise the fuel costs incurred by regional and urban fringe volunteers who often drive long distances to serve their communities," Mr Redman said.
"Volunteers not only attend incidents in their own patch, but travel thousands of kilometres to major incidents across the State, such as the Northcliffe and Boddington bushfires earlier this year."
The fuel card scheme will be available to all brigades, groups and units in designated rural and urban fringe areas.
Fact File
- Volunteer fire and emergency services include St John Ambulance, volunteer bush fire service, volunteer fire and rescue service brigades, volunteer fire and emergency services, State Emergency Service and volunteer marine rescue services
- It is expected applications for the Regional Emergency Service Volunteer Fuel Card Scheme will be available by December 2015
- For more information http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/volunteers/Pages/FuelCards.aspx
- The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) will manage the scheme
- For more information on Royalties for Regions projects, visit Bigger Picture - Regions.
Emergency Services Minister's office - 6552 6500
Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6700
